SEN Provision at Buckingham Primary School

The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames is proposing to remove provision reserved for pupils with special educational needs at Buckingham Primary School, replacing it with provision at Clarendon School.

These changes would come into effect from 28 September 2015.

Background

In order to guide our work in improving Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision in the Borough of Richmond, the Council has established three guiding principles for improvements.

Guiding principles

Children with SEN should have their needs met in mainstream schools wherever possible.

If provision in a special setting is necessary, it should be as local and inclusive as possible.

There should be as much choice for parents as possible.

Current SEN provision

Buckingham Primary School

The SEN provision at Buckingham Primary School is for pupils from 4 years old to 7 years old. The provision caters for 8 pupils with severe and complex needs including autistic spectrum disorder. Pupils require a statement of special educational needs or Education, Health and Care Plan.

The provision offers intensive specialist teaching that is targeted at the individual needs of each pupil. The provision includes input from a wide range of professionals including speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and educational psychologists.

Clarendon Special School

Clarendon Special School is for pupils from 7 years old to 19 years old. The school caters for pupils with complex needs including Autism. Pupils require a statement of special educational needs or Education, Health and Care Plan.

The provision offers intensive specialist teaching that is targeted at the individual needs of each pupil. The provision includes input from a wide range of professionals including speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and educational psychologists.

Clarendon School currently has 155 pupils aged 7-19 years old. This is broken down in the following way:

100 pupils aged 7 to 16 in the main school

32 pupils aged 11 to 19 at the Gateway Centre

23 pupils aged 11 to 16 at the Newhouse Centre.

The proposals

The proposed changes are:

The current specialist provision for pupils with special educational needs will no longer be provided by Buckingham Primary School with effect from 28 September 2015.

Current pupils at the SEN provision at Buckingham Primary School will move onto the roll of Clarendon Special School from 28 September 2015.

Current pupils at the SEN provision at Buckingham Primary School will be educated on the site of Clarendon Special School.

That Clarendon School expand as an umbrella SEN provider to include the 8 places from Buckingham Primary School as part of the main school provision.

The management of any staff transferred from Buckingham Primary School would be employed and managed by Clarendon Special School.

The revenue budget for pupils in the specialist provision at Buckingham Primary School would be transferred from Buckingham Primary School to Clarendon Special School.

Benefits of the changes

Overall, the changes will generally enable the Council to deliver its commitment to improve SEN provision in the borough and more specifically provide the following benefits:

Pupils currently on roll at the SEN provision at Buckingham Primary School will have access to more specialist teaching and support.

Pupils currently on roll at the SEN provision at Buckingham Primary School will have access to a multi professional team including therapists.

Staff currently at Buckingham Primary School would have access to high quality professional supervision and training.

Pupils currently on roll at the SEN provision at Buckingham Primary School would still retain the opportunity of inclusion within a mainstream setting. The practical arrangements for this would be planned and agreed on a pupil by pupil basis.